Door closer



Feb. 26, 1963 R. K. GRAY ETAL DOOR CLOSER Filed sept. so, 195e 4Sheets-Sheet 1 un l! 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 772W Jaz/C 46:2 g?

MIMI@ fr@ DOOR CLOSER R. K. G RAY ETAL Mm, NN vm Nm @1+ wm Filed sept.so, 1958 lleb. 26, 1963 R. K. GRAY ET AL 3,078,499

' Dooa cLosER Filed sept. so, 1958 4 sheets-sheet :s

" em Afef 56a dz-f l 2154352( C. mig@ Feb. 26, 1963 R. K. GRAY ETA.3,078,499

` DooR CLOSER Filed Sep't. 30, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United StatesPatent O1 corporation of Illinois Filed Sept. 30, 1958, Ser. No. 764,4007 Claims. (Cl. 16--52) This invention relates to an hydraulic piston andcylinder door closer.

Many previously known piston and cylinder door closing or checkingdevices utilizing hydraulic damping fluid are so constructed that acertain amount of air is trapped with the fluid in front of the piston,causing an objectionable bounce at the start of the closing operation ofthe door. Solutions have been proposed for this problem, but they aregenerally unsatisfactory commercially, as they involve eithercomplicated fluid passageway arrangements or complicated mechanicallinkages which permit mounting the cylinder in a vertical rather than ahorizontal position. As a result, such devices are too expensive to becommercially practicable.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a novel,yet simple, piston and fluid passageway arrangement for an hydraulicdoor closer, which reduces the air bounce problem.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a novel arrangementfor varying the terminal closing force of the device.

One feature of the invention is the provision of an hydraulic piston andcylinder door closer including a fluid passageway through the piston forflow of fluid on movement of the piston during opening of the door, thepassageway having an inlet spaced from the piston proper. Anotherfeature is that the inlet of the fiuid passageway is a port formed inthe lower surface of a boss extending from the piston, and spaced fromthe piston face.

A further feature is that the liuid passage inlet port means iselongated in a dimension along the axis of the cylinder, so that thefluid is drawn into the passage over a substantial area.

Still another feature is that the piston is provided with a fluid returnpassageway having a flow restricting orifice therein, a pin isassociated with the flow restricting orifice, and operable therein tochange the rate of flow of fluid through the orifice at the terminationof the closing movement of the door, together with means for adjustingor varying the point of operation of the pin. Yet a further feature isthat the pin is movably mounted on the piston, extending through theflow restricting orifice, and has portions of differing cross-section,the pin engaging the end of the cylinder and moving relative to theorifice to change the cross-section of the portion in the orifice duringthe terminal portion of the piston movement.

Another feature is that the piston is provided with a fluid returnpassageway having an exposed flow restricting orifice therein, a pin ismounted in the cylinder and projects into the flow restricting orificeas the piston nears its terminal position, and means are provided forvarying the relative positions of the piston and the pin, to providediffering terminal closing rates. Yet a further feature is that the stopposition of the piston is varied by changing the point of connection ofthe piston rod to the door.

And another feature is that the check valve in the fluid fiow passagethrough the piston includes a surface having a plurality of orificestherein carried in a recess in the face of the piston, with the orificesforming a portion of the flow passage, an annular member mounted in the,recess and having a valve restraining portion, and the valve membercarried between the surface and the annular member, for covering aportion of the orifices.

A further feature is that the bracket member for secur- 3,078,4@9Patented Feb. 26, 1963 ice ing the piston rod to the door has mountingholes therein which are offset or unequally spaced from the point atwhich the piston rod is connected with the bracket, so that the bracketmay be placed in one position with the piston closed for marking thepoint of attachment to the door, and then secured to the door inreversed position, to apply a preload to the return spring of thecloser.

Yet another feature is that the closer includes a bracket secured to thedoor frame and a pin for securing the closer to the bracket, includingmeans for preventing rotation of the pin relative to the bracket.

Further features and advantages will readily be apparent from thefollowing specification and from the drawings, in which:

FIG. l is a horizontal section taken through a door and frame,illustrating the mounting of the door closer;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section taken through the door closer;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section through the piston and aportion of the cylinder, in one position;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section through the piston and aportion of the cylinder, in another position;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section through the piston and aportion of the cylinder in a third position;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary plan and sectional view illustrating one step insecuring the piston rod bracket to the door;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 with the bracket secured to the doorand the rod attached to the bracket;

FIG. 8 is a View taken generally along line 8 3 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 9 is a bottom view of a modified piston;

FIG. l0 is a sketch illustrating the flow of hydraulic iiuid with thenovel fluid passageway inlet port arrangement of this invention;

FIG. ll is an enlarged fragmentary section through the piston andportion of the cylinder, similar to FIG. 3,

.illustrating a modified form of the invention;

FIG. l2 is a view similar to FIG. 11 showing the parts in anotherposition;

FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 11 showing a further modified form ofthe invention; and

FIG. 14 is an enlarged sectional view through the frame bracket andconnecting pin.

Door closers for general purpose home use, as for screen and stormdoors, are usually air buffered piston and cylinder devices. Theseclosers normally have a relatively short life, as of the order of six toeight years. A few types of hydraulic closers, both piston and cylinder,and rotary vane constructions, have been marketed for home use. Theseclosers are generally subject either to the air bounce problem discussedabove, or are relatively expensive. The hydraulic piston and cylindercloser disclosed and claimed herein not only eliminates the air bounceproblem, but is of rugged yet relatively inexpensive construction,having a long life while well within the price range for home use.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIG. l, a storm door15 is mounted by hinge 16 on a frame i7. Closing movement of the door islimited by stop I3 secured to the jamb portion I9 of frame i7. A closer,indicated generally as 20, includes a cylinder 21 secured to framebracket 22 attached to the door frame adjacent the hinged edge of thedoor. A piston rod 23 extends from the opposite end of cylinder 21 andis secured to door bracket 24 attached to an intermediate point of thedoor 15.

In FIG. 2 it is seen that the cylinder 21 is provided with two endmembers 26 and 27. End member 26 has an ear 28 projecting therefrom witha hole 29 formed in the end to receive a pin connecting the cylinderwith door frame bracket 22. Piston rod 23, which extends through a bore3u provided in end member 27, is afxed at its inner end to piston 32,slidably carried within the cylinder The piston 32 and rod 23 are urgedtoward the position shown in FiG. 2 by return spring 33 which has oneend bearing against the face .34 of the piston, and the other end on cupwasher 35, which in turn is seated on end member 2'7 and serves as aretainer for sealing ring 36. A relatively heavy buffer spring 37 islocated inside return spring 33 and is centered by a conical portion 35aof cup washer 35. A sleeve 37a, preferably of a plastic material asnylon, surrounds piston rod 3.2.3 inside the buffer spring, to preventthe spring from scarring the piston rod.

As best seen in FlG. 3, piston 3?., has an elongated boss or extensionportion itl extending from the face 34, to which piston rod is secured,by pin ai. A fluid passage through the piston includes bore 42 whichextends longitudinally through boss 40 and communicates through recessd3, formed in the face 44 of piston, with the space 435 to the left ofthe piston as viewed in the drawings. Bore 42 communicates with spaced6, to the right of the piston, through a plurality of ports 47, 4S and49 formed in the enlarged lower portion of boss 40 which is thicker thanthe top portion so that the lower surface of the boss is closelyadjacent the cylinder wall. Carried in the recess 43 is a check valvearrangement including valve seat plate 52, provided with a plurality ofperipherally located apertures S3 (FIG. 8) and a centrally locatedaperture 51%. Overlying plate 52 is an annular valve retainer 55, havingan L-shaped crossssection with an inturned flange 55a. Carried betweeniiange 55a and valve seat plate 52 is check valve S6 which has acentrally located orifice 57 that is several times the size of orifice51tin plate 52. A portion 52% of the piston 32 is formed over the top ofannular valve retainer 5S as by a rolling operation, holding the entirevalve assembly in recess 43.

Cylinder 21 is filled with a fluid having a high viscosity index, as anhydraulic damping lluid. The quantity of i'luid placed in the cylinderis such that the level is about 1A; to 3/16 of an inch below the top ofthe cylinder 21 with the parts in the fully closed position, as shown inFIG. 2.

When the door is opened, the piston 32 is retracted, compressing returnspring 33. The movement of the piston away from end member 26 creates avacuum or reduced pressure in the space 45 to the left of the piston,drawing the hydraulic iluid from the space 46 through the piston. Theflow of iluid during this movement is through ports d?, 43 and 49, bore42, apertures S3 and 54 in plate 52, and the central aperture 57 ofvalve 56, which is unseated. If the opening movement of the door iscontinued, butter spring 37 will also be compressed.

When the door is released, the return spring, or springs if both arecompressed, urge the piston to the left, tending to close the door. Thisaction moves valve member 56 to the right, causing it to seat on plate52 closing orifices 53, so that the return ilow of fluid must passthrough ow restricting orifice 54. The size of this orifice, as relatedto the viscosity of the hydraulic uid and the pressure of the returnspring, Igoverns the closing speed of the device.

In the embodiment of FIGURE 3, as piston 32 nears its terminal position,adjacent end member 26, the point 6@ of a pin 61 mounted in the endmember, enters speed control oriiice Sli, restricting the rate of iiowtherethrough, and slowing the closing action of the door. The outerportion 6in of pin 6l has a smaller diameter than the base portion 61h,so that the closing movement of the door is slowed in two stages. Thisis illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, which show the portions 6in1 and 61h,respectively, or" the pin extending into ow controlling orifice 54. Inone embodiment of the device where the How restricting oriice 5d has adiameter of 0.050 inch, the portion ola of the flow restricting pin hasa diameter of 0.034 inch, and the portion 61h has a diameter of 0.040inch. The opening .S7 inthe valve member is suiciently l large so thatthe flow through it is not aiected by the `member 6l.

The location of ports 47, 48 and 49 which open at the bottom of pistonextension ttl reduces the possibility of air being drawn through thepiston into the space 45 when the door is opened. Furthermore, thespacing of the ports along the length of piston extension 40, with thelargest opening the farthest away from the face 34 of the piston,provides an elongated port means which causes the iluid to tlow into thepiston in a uniform manner. In FiG. l0, the action of the surface of thehydraulic fluid with the port arrangement of FG. 3 is illustrated at da,showing how the fluid is drawn through each of the spaced ports. Whereonly a single port is provided in the face of piston 34, the surface ofthe hydraulic iiuid follows the broken line 65, and air is often drawnthrough the piston, resulting in the objectionable bounce operationdiscussed above.

FIG. 9 is a bottom View of a modified piston with a single wedge shapedintake port 67 located in the bottom or lower surface of pistonextension 40, with the opening tapering downwardly as it approaches theface 34 of the piston.

Preferably the cross sectional area of the ports is equal to the area ofbore 42, for ecient fluid ilow.

The needle valve or pin 6l, which provides slowing of the door at theend of the closing operation, may be utin lized to provide a terminalspeed control. In FIG. 7, it will be seen that the door bracket 24 isprovided with three sets of holes 68, 69 and '70, to one of which pistonrod 23 is secured by pin 71. With piston rod 23 connected in holes 68,the piston closes fully, almost to the surface of end member 26, withfull slowing of the operation. If piston rod 23 is connected with holes69, the terminal position of the piston is as shown in FIG. 4, with onlypartial slowing action as pin 61 is in orifice 54 for a shorter portionof the movement. If the piston rod is secured in holes 70 of the doorbracket, the terminal position of the piston is as illustrated in FIG.3, with the flow restricting orilice 54 stopped short of the end 61a ofneedle valve 6l. With this arrangement of the closer, the door is movedat a constant speed and there is no slowing as it latches. The differingcross-sections of portions 61a and Gib of the pin enhance this control,as the closing speed is slower in the nal portion of the movement (usingbracket holes 63) due to the further reduction in flow area through theoriiice.

The above described arrangement permits adjustment of the closer toaccommodate different types of doors, latches and operating conditions.

The mounting holes 72 and 73 for door bracket 24 are oset from theconnecting pin holes 63, 69 and 70, with holes 68 being spaced fartherfrom mounting hole 73 than the distance between holes 'itl and mountinghole 72. This arrangement facilitates the installation of the closerwith the necessary amount of pre-load on return spring 33. As shown inFIG. 6, door bracket 24 is initially connected with piston rod 23 by pin'71 through holes 7i), with mounting hole 72 toward the left or hingeedge of the door. The return spring 33 is fully extended, with the face44. of piston 32 engaging end member 26. The positions of holes 72 and73 are marked on door l5, as by a pencil '74. Door bracket 24 is removedfrom piston rod 23, inverted and attached to the door with hole 73y tothe left and hole 72 to the right. Piston rod 23 is then reconnectedwith door bracket 24, by pin 7l in holes 68. As these holes are spacedfarther from mounting hole 73 than the distance between hole 7u andmounting hole 72, piston 32 is moved away from the face of end member26, as shown in FIG. 2, applying a pre-load to closing spring 33.

Cylinder end Z7 through which piston rod 23 extends, has mounted in bore30 a bearing sleeve 75, preferably of a low friction material, as nylon.Mounted in an enlarged portion 39a of the bore at the outer end of end.

member 27 is an annular rod seal 76 of flexible sealing material backedup by supporting washer 77. A leather rod wiper 78 is located outsidesupporting washer 77, and held in place by a retaining washer 79. Theparts 77, 78 :and '79 are of any suitable construction and may beconventional. The provision of an elongated bearing surface 75 at theinner face of end member 2'7, with the sealing element at the outer facethereof, eliminates undue wear on the sealing element due tomisalignment of the piston rod during operation.

In the modification of FGS, ll and l2, parts corresponding with partsillustrated and identified in preceding gures are designated by the samereference numerals. A pin '71' is carried in the bore 42 of piston 32and is urged outwardly thereof through ow controlling ori'iice 54 by aspring 7i", which has an end portion 71a tightly coiled about pin 71'and engaging a shoulder 71a' formed thereon, supporting the pin. Theportion 71b' of the pin, which is normally Within orifice 5ft wheneverthe piston is spaced a substantial distance from cylinder end member 26,reduces the ow of hydraulic uid through the orifice to such a degreethat the door closes slowly. As the piston nears end member 26, thesharpened point 'lc' of the pin engages a plug 72. carried by end member26, and the movement of the pin is stopped. As piston 32 continues tomove toward the left, the reduced portion 71d of the pin enters flowcontrolling orifice 54, and the nal closing movement of the door isaccelerated. This insures that the door will latch securely, even with alatch that is hard to operate.

The end surface of plug 72' which is engaged by the pointed end 7ilc' ofthe pin is provided with a conical depression 72a', so that the pin isproperly aligned during the relative movement between it and piston 32.

Plug 72 has a threaded portion 72b received in a nut '73' secured in theportion 26a of cylinder end member l 26. A knurled knob 72e is manuallyengageable to permit adjustment of the position of plug 72 relative tocylinder end member 26, and thus to control the point at which theclosing rate of the door is changed. An O-ring 74 seals the jointbetween plug 72 and end member 26, and is held in position by a retainerwasher '75.

In FiGURE 13, a moditied control pin '7S' is shown carried by spring 71having a portion of reduced crosssectional area 78a', which is normallypositioned within ow controlling orifice S4, and a portion of enlargedcross-sectional area 'b' which is moved into the iiow controllingorifice 54 during the terminal closing movement of the door. This slowsthe movement of the door as it latches.

Referring now to FIGURE 14, it will be seen that the frame bracket 22includes two spaced portions 22a and 221: between which is received theend portion of ear 2?. A pin St) is inserted through aligned openings inbracket portions 22a and 22b, and through opening 29 in ear 23. The pin80 is provided with a portion 81 which engages with bracket portion 22a,preventing pin S0 from rotating during operation of the closer. Forexample, the shoulder portion 81 of pin lSti may be knurled and of sucha diameter that it has a driven engagement with the bracket. Allrelative motion between the closer and the bracket occurs along thesurface of hole 29 and the body of pin St), and there is no wear on therelatively small surfaces of engagement between the pin and the bracket.

While we have shown and described certain embodiments of our invention,it is understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes,therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed in theappended claims.

We claim:

l. In a hydraulic door closer: a cylinder adapted to contain hydraulicuid; a piston slidable in said cylinder;

a spring urging said piston toward one end of said cylinder; means forconnecting sai-d piston and cylinder to a door and an associated frame,opening movement of said door moving said piston toward the other end ofsaid cylinder and thereby compressing said spring; a boss having a lowerwall extending outwardly from said pist0n, and having a bore; and meansdefining a iiuid passage through said piston for flow of hydraulic uidon movement of the piston toward said other end of the cylinder, saidpassage including said bore and port means through the wall of saidboss, horizontally spaced a substantial distance from the face of saidpiston, said port means opening through the lower wall of said boss andhaving a greater extent in a direction along the axis of the cylinderthan in a direction transverse thereto.

2. A hydraulic piston and cylinder device ot' claim l, wherein said portmeans comprises a series of openings of graduated size extendinglongitudinally along said boss, with the largest opening spaced thefarthest from the face of said piston.

3. A hydraulic piston and cylinder device of claim l, wherein said portmeans is a wedge-shaped opening having its base portion spaced farthestfrom the face of said piston and tapering toward the piston face.

4. In a hydraulic door closer; a cylinder adapted to contain hydraulicuid; a piston slidable in said cylinder; a spring urging said pistontoward one end of said cylinder; means for connecting said piston andcylinder to a door and an associated trame, opening movement of saiddoor moving said piston toward the other end of said cylinder andthereby compressing said spring; a boss extending outwardly from saidpiston, and having a bore; and means defining the principal uid passagethrough said piston for iiow of hydraulic fluid on movement of thepiston toward said other end of the cylinder, said passageway includingsaid bore and port means through the wall of said boss, spaced asubstantial distance from the face of said piston, the cross section ofsaid port means geing substantially equal to the cross section of saidore.

5. In a hydraulic door closer: a cylinder adapted to contain hydraulicfluid; a piston and rod slidable in said cylinder; a spring urging saidpiston toward one end of said cylinder; means, including a bracket, forconnecting said piston rod and cylinder to a door and an associatedframe, opening movement of said door moving said piston toward the otherend of said cylinder and thereby compressing said spring; means defininga fluid passage through said piston for flow of hydraulic liuid onmovement of the piston toward a stop position at said one end of thecylinder, said Huid passage including an exposed flow restrictingorifice; a stepped pin having portions of diiering cross-section mountedin said cylinder and pro- Jecting into said flow restricting orifice assaid piston nears stop position, said bracket connecting said piston rodto said door having a plurality of spaced connection points selectivelyreceiving said piston rod for adjusting ghe stepped portions of said pinwith respect to said ori- 6. In a hydraulic door closer: a cylinderadapted to contain hydraulic iluid; a piston slidable in said cylinder;a spring urging said piston toward one end of said cylinder; means forconnecting said piston and cylinder to a door and an associated frame,opening movement of said door moving said piston toward the other end ofsaid cylinder and thereby compressing said spring; a boss havmg a lowerwall extending outwardly from said piston and having a boretherethrough; and means defining a fluid passage through said piston forow of hydraulic duid on movement of the piston toward said other end ofthe cylinder, said passage including said bore and port means throughonly the lower wall of the boss, said port means being spaced from theface of said piston a distance greater than the distance between theport means 3,95%,499 and the botiom of the cylinder, and the bottomsurface References Cited in the le of this patent of the lower Wall ofthe boss being closer to the botorn of the cylinder han he top surfaceof ille boss is io the UNITED STATES PATENTS the relative position ofsaid piston and pin being adjustable for selectively varying the rate ofiiow of the 20 FOREIGN PATENTS hydraulic iuid, by changing the point ofconnection of 1,158,223 France Ian. 20, 1958 the closer t0 Said dom-444,046 Great Bain Mal'. 12, i936

1. IN A HYDRAULIC DOOR CLOSER: A CYLINDER ADAPTED TO CONTAIN HYDRAULICFLUID; A PISTON SLIDABLE IN SAID CYLINDER; A SPRING URGING SAID PISTONTOWARD ONE END OF SAID CYLINDER; MEANS FOR CONNECTING SAID PISTON ANDCYLINDER TO A DOOR AND AN ASSOCIATED FRAME, OPENING MOVEMENT OF SAIDDOOR MOVING SAID PISTON TOWARD THE OTHER END OF SAID CYLINDER ANDTHEREBY COMPRESSING SAID SPRING; A BOSS HAVING A LOWER WALL EXTENDINGOUTWARDLY FROM SAID PISTON, AND HAVING A BORE; AND MEANS DEFINING AFLUID PASSAGE THROUGH SAID PISTON FOR FLOW OF HYDRAULIC FLUID ONMOVEMENT OF THE PISTON TOWARD SAID OTHER END OF THE CYLINDER, SAIDPASSAGE INCLUDING SAID BORE AND PORT MEANS THROUGH THE WALL OF SAIDBOSS, HORIZONTALLY SPACED A SUBSTANTIAL DISTANCE FROM THE FACE OF SAIDPISTON, SAID PORT MEANS OPENING THROUGH THE LOWER WALL OF SAID BOSS ANDHAVING A GREATER EXTENT IN A DIRECTION ALONG THE AXIS OF THE CYLINDERTHAN IN A DIRECTION TRANSVERSE THERETO.